LJ Martin scores a BYU touchdown (Photo by BYU Athletics)
BYU found out on Friday night that they would play Texas Tech for the Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas, on December 6th. The Cougars then secured an 11-1 season by defeating UCF on Saturday!
BYU 41, Central Florida 21
The first quarter was pretty lousy for BYU. UCF scored on their opening drive of the game, BYU’s offense then went three-and-out, and UCF scored again on their second possession. BYU quickly found themselves down 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. But Kalani Sitake’s team would wake up and respond with strength.
LJ Martin would lead the way for BYU. He would cap off a 65-yard touchdown drive by punching it in from the one-yard line. BYU would follow that up with a 54-yard drive that Martin would again finish off, diving into the end zone from one yard out. Still not done, BYU would drive 72 yards for a field goal from Will Ferrin, and the Cougars would have the lead 17-14 at halftime.
Second Half
BYU was 60-7 under Sitake when leading at halftime, on a 15-game winning streak when leading at half at the start of this game. They picked up in the second half right where they left off in the first. They opened the third quarter with a 75-yard drive that LJ Martin paid off with a three-yard touchdown run. His third touchdown gave BYU a 24-14 lead.
Jay Hill’s Cougar defense would force a three-and-out, and UCF would punt to Parker Kingston. Kingston made them pay with a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown. This would give BYU a 31-14 lead and cap off a run of 31 unanswered points for the Cougars. UCF would get a touchdown to cut the lead to ten, but BYU would respond. Again, it was Parker Kingston. Kingston caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Bear Bachmeier, and BYU led 38-21 going into the fourth quarter.
Another Will Ferrin field goal would give BYU the final points of the 41-21 victory. The Cougars are 11-1 and will play Texas Tech for the Big 12 title and a guaranteed College Football Playoff berth. Both teams deserve to be in, regardless of who wins the Big 12 crown. You can be certain, though, that Kalani Sitake will have the team focused on controlling their own destiny and winning the Big 12 Championship.
BYU’s Best
While it was mostly the Martin and Kingston Show, a few more Cougars also roared in the victory over UCF. Martin had his eighth game of the season with over 100 total yards. He had 22 carries for 95 yards and three touchdowns and added five catches for 35 yards. This season, he has 217 carries for 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has 29 catches for 224 yards. Martin has 1,453 total yards this year.
Kingston, who is said to have been playing with food poisoning, had a huge game. He had six catches for 126 yards and a touchdown, and a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown. This year he has 57 catches for 804 yards and five touchdowns, with 22 carries for 103 yards and three rushing touchdowns, and 14 punts returned for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Parker Kingston has 1,092 total yards and 10 total touchdowns this season.
Bear Bachmeier had his most accurate game at quarterback for BYU. Bachmeier was 21 of 25 for 289 yards and a touchdown pass. On the season, Bachmeier is 208 of 322 for 2,593 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. His season rushing stats are 137 carries for 529 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jack Kelly had a big game at linebacker with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks. He has 52 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, a forced fumble, and a touchdown this season. Evan Johnson had four tackles and an interception. Johnson has 40 tackles, four interceptions, a sack, and a tackle for a loss this year.
Texas Tech Part 2
BYU will get a rematch with Texas Tech. BYU’s 29-7 loss in Lubbock on November 8th has weighed on them, and now they get a chance few teams in college football get. A second shot at a team that beat them in the same season. Texas Tech head Coach Joey McGuire says he believes both teams should be in the College Football Playoff, no matter the outcome of the game. He is right, but with the massive SEC bias, BYU can’t rely on an at-large bid. They will treat this game like it’s a must-win, because it very well may be.
